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Green Cards

Green Card Advice & Representation in London

What is a Green Card?

A green card is a permanent resident ID that can be issued to immigrants to the US, depending on certain circumstances. It is categorised into categories such as family, work, refugee, asylee status, and a variety of special programs. This includes the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (‘green card lottery’) that makes 50,000 visas available through a lottery system targeted at underrepresented countries.

Potential Avenues for Green Card Acquisition

Permanent resident status through USA green cards may be acquired directly from categories accommodating business investments, persons of extraordinary ability and foreigners with specific work skills. Green card status can also open doors to US citizenship provided certain criteria are met.

Spousal relationships and other family ties create another source for the acquisition of US green cards and subsequent acquisition of US citizenship.

The green card lottery provides yet another avenue for permanent residence in the United States.

These green card platforms have provided avenues for settlement in the United States for UK citizens and millions of foreigners around the world. The petition and following visa application for permanent residence status can often be a long-winding and complex process.  The services of an experienced USA immigration lawyer can be of immense support whilst navigating the pertinent procedure.

Common Green Card FAQs

How do I apply for a Green Card?

Typically, when applying for a Green Card, you determine your eligibility and then file a petition.

What type of Green Card do I need?

It depends on your specific situation whether it be family-sponsored, employment-based, special, humanitarian, or a lottery program. Common types include immediate relatives (spouse/child of U.S. citizens), employment-based (EB-1 to EB-5), and the Diversity Visa Lottery. View more information on the different visa types.

How much does a Green Card cost?

Again, it depends on your situation.

How long does the Green Card Application process take?

Once again, it depends on the visa category and your nationality.

Do I need a solicitor (or lawyer?) to apply for a Green Card?

No.  You can apply for a Green Card yourself. However, the chances of submitting a robust petition if prepared by an experienced lawyer.  Additionally, the services of a US immigration lawyer is recommended for complex cases, such as if your visa application has been previously denied or if you have a criminal record. If you are unsure about the process, it would be best to hire a law firm that is an expert in US immigration law.

How Can Solutions In Law Help You with Your Green Card Application?

Solutions In Law has over 20 years of experience helping people move to the US. We are able to commence from temporary status and represent our clients through to permanent residence and, ultimately, citizenship in the United States. 

Our US immigration attorneys have unified several families through successful spousal and family applications procuring permanent status in the United States.  We have, equally, been responsible for a plethora of transitions to the US by employment, business and investment visas.

We continue to apply the highest standards in making placements in the US expedient for our clients.  Our consultations are tailored to prepare the proposed transfer to the US and make the process easy to comprehend.  Our overall representation is designed to achieve the ultimate purpose of living, working, travelling and conducting business in the United States.

Contact Us

Please do not hesitate to contact our lawyers on 020 3835 1826 for advice on permanent residence by virtue of US marriage visas and other family routes, green card lottery applications, the US investor visa and other avenues.

Green Card Lottery

Migration to the USA may be possible by virtue of the green card lottery. The diversity immigrant visa program makes USA permanent resident visas available each year. A Maximum of 50,000 visas is usually issued annually. Successful applicants are chosen at random.

Green Card Status: USA Permanent Residence: Family & Employment

USA immigration laws establish two categories of aliens who may immigrate permanently to the United States – holders of preference and non-preference types of US visas. Those..

Family: USA Permanent Visa

Non-preference categories are as follows:

Unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens

These USA visas are subject to 23,000..

Employment: Permanent USA Visa

There are five different categories of employment-based USA work visas synonymous with US permanent residence (acquisition of a green card). These are referred to as the EB preference system. The worldwide limit for these visas is 140,000 plus unused family-sponsored preference visas from the previous year.

EB-1: Priority USA permanent residence Visa

Aliens possessing extraordinary abilities

There are three types of individuals that qualify for permanent USA visas under this category of which one of them is a person of extraordinary ability in the arts, sciences, business, education or athletics.

EB-2: Exceptional Ability & National Interest Waiver

A national interest waiver may be acquired under the second preference employment category for aliens of exceptional abilities in the science, arts or business and advanced degree professionals. The annual quota for the issuance of these visas is 40,000 plus any unused visas from the first

EB-3: Professional, skilled & other US Work Visa

Professional workers:

US immigration regulations provide that the petition for a professional classification must be accompanied
by evidence that the alien holds a baccalaureate degree or a foreign equivalent degree, and by evidence, the alien is a member of the professions.

EB-4: Special Immigrants & Religious workers

This employment based category of USA visas (EB-4) allows workers to immigrate to live and work in the USA. These include ministers, people working in professional positions or those working in a religious vocation or occupation and must possess either a US baccalaureate degree or the foreign

EB-5: Permanent Residence Investor Visa

The fifth employment based preference (EB-5) allows aliens to migrate permanently to the United states if they invest one million dollars (or five hundred thousand dollars in an area considered to be rural or one of high unemployment) in a new business.

USA Citizenship

The acquisition of US citizenship is often a product of permanent resident status. The duration involved for acquiring citizenship is contingent on the source of permanent residence.